Darrel Peeples

1945 - 2025

On September 25, 2025, after suffering a stroke, Darrel L. Peeples (Peeps) age 80, climbed his last mountain, and at the peak, touched his beloved stars.

Darrel was born in Seattle on August 4, 1945 to Fritz and Ruth Peeples. He grew up in Renton along with older brother, Clint, and younger brother, Dwayne (deceased). In 1963 he graduated from Renton High School, lettering in both basketball and track. He was recruited to play basketball at WSU and remained a loyal Coug throughout his life. (His retirement wardrobe leaned heavily toward crimson and gray!) The close friendships he made in both high school and at WSU continued throughout his life – and both Julie and Darrel were so grateful for them. He earned a law degree in 1970 from the University of Oregon Law School and was then hired by Slade Gorton as an assistant AG, thus beginning 55 years of life in Olympia and the Boston Harbor area. In 1976, he was instrumental in the State v. Sea World lawsuit, which ultimately protected the orcas that live in Puget Sound today.

After leaving his career with the state, Darrel joined with other local attorneys in 1984 to establish the private practice of Swanson, Parr, Cordes, Peeples, and Wyckoff. During this time, Darrel was hired by the Olympia Northeast Neighborhood Association to protect from development property that is currently the Mission Creek Trail System. He left the practice in the early 2000's, after having been instrumental in writing the regulations for the Environmental Facilities Siting Energy Counsel (EFSEC). He spent the remainder of his career acting as the "Dean" of the complex permitting process of energy projects in Washington state. He proudly ended his career siting multiple renewable energy projects.

Anyone who knew Darrel, would agree he was a curious, big hearted, generous, funny, one-of-a-kind guy. Astronomy, history, even designing and marketing the Zuka Scope with his friend, George, couldn't contain his passion for lifelong learning. His sense of humor - the jokes (often junior high-level and repeated relentlessly!) and the "Darrel-isms" - endeared him to us and left us with memories and stories to last a lifetime. Oh, how we'll miss him!

Always believing that life is about who you love, Darrel is survived by his wife of 55 years, Julie, his sons Andy Peeples (Tesilya Forester) and Colin Peeples (Clayann Lankford), and granddaughter Parker. Being Parker's Papa was the absolute joy of Darrel's last 8 years. He is also survived by his brother, Clint, sisters-in-law Bonnie Kavanaugh and Virginia Stonkus, nieces and nephews, and our chosen family, Erin and Ian Timms and grandsons of our heart, Owen and Alan Timms.

Please join us for a celebration of Darrel's life on December 18th from 4-6 p.m. at the Olympia Yacht Club, 201 Simmons St. NW.

Remembrances can be made to Boston Harbor School PTA, 7300 Zangle Rd. NE Olympia, WA 98506.